Performance Audit

The Harvest Network schools have been a bright spot in north Minneapolis since the founding of Harvest Preparatory School in 1992, followed by Best Academy in 2008 and The Mastery School in 2012. From 2012 - 2015 the schools enjoyed local and national acclaim for their academic success with African American children. In 2015, The Harvest Network of Schools (HNS, a charter management organization) was founded to manage the three affiliated schools and to lead the growth and expansion of the Network.

Following the dramatic growth of enrollment in Harvest Preparatory School, Best Academy and The Mastery School (collectively referred to as The Harvest Network of Schools), the leadership and boards of the schools noted overall decline in academic performance since 2015 and sought external evaluation. In the fall of 2017, The New Teacher Project conducted a review and produced a report. A copy of this report, along with its recommendations, can be found at the link below.

Based on the results of that review, plans are now underway to proceed with organizational transformation, and each of the schools’ boards is in the process of determining next steps in response to the TNTP recommendations. We will update our partners and key stakeholders as decisions regarding next steps are made. Contact: Karen Kelley-Ariwoola, HNS Chief Officer of External Relations at 612-876-4054 or kkelleyariwoola@seed-harvest.org.